Installation Of Readers And Communion Assistants
Worship
THE WEAVING OF THE HEARTS
Worship Resources For 17 Special Occasions
A Service Of Commissioning
L: Today we recognize the ministry of those in our midst who have responded to God's call to serve as readers and communion assistants at our worship services. I would ask that those who have made a commitment to these two areas of ministry now come forward to be installed for this service within our congregational worship.
(Readers and communion assistants come forward.)
L: Hear what God's Word has to say about service through gifts of the Spirit: (Romans 12:4-9) "For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness."
L: You have responded to God's call to serve in the ministry of service among us through the reading of the Holy Scriptures and assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion. Do you promise to faithfully administer the Word and sacrament when called upon to do so?
C: Yes, and I ask God to help me.
L: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. Do you promise to be faithful in your personal study of the word so that the Spirit will be able to give you understanding as you share it with others?
C: Yes, and I ask the Spirit to help me.
L: Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. On the night in which he was betrayed, he shared the bread and wine which would become his body and blood given and shed for us for the remission of our sins through his atoning death upon the Cross. Believing that Christ died for our sins and that through the celebration of Holy Communion and belief in him we are restored to fellowship with the Father, do you promise to acknowledge and serve him as your Lord and Savior not just in church but in your daily lives?
C: Yes, and I ask Jesus to help me.
L: As God supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, so he will bless each of you as you plant the seed of the Word of God in our hearts and share the administration of communion among us. Please kneel and receive God's blessing and anointing for this service.
L: Congregation please stand and let us pray: When Christ ascended on high he gave gifts to his people. We pray now that the Holy Spirit will stir up those spiritual gifts within you and anoint you for the ministry of reading and of assisting with holy communion. Pour out your Spirit, Gracious Lord, on these your faithful servants who now kneel before you. Be with us, as a congregation, in supporting and encouraging their ministry among us. Equip them as saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. May the love they have for their Lord and Savior continue to grow as they share with us through service. Be now anointed with the Holy Spirit to minister in our midst as readers and communion assistants in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
L: Empowered by the Spirit, go in peace.
L: Today we recognize the ministry of those in our midst who have responded to God's call to serve as readers and communion assistants at our worship services. I would ask that those who have made a commitment to these two areas of ministry now come forward to be installed for this service within our congregational worship.
(Readers and communion assistants come forward.)
L: Hear what God's Word has to say about service through gifts of the Spirit: (Romans 12:4-9) "For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness."
L: You have responded to God's call to serve in the ministry of service among us through the reading of the Holy Scriptures and assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion. Do you promise to faithfully administer the Word and sacrament when called upon to do so?
C: Yes, and I ask God to help me.
L: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. Do you promise to be faithful in your personal study of the word so that the Spirit will be able to give you understanding as you share it with others?
C: Yes, and I ask the Spirit to help me.
L: Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. On the night in which he was betrayed, he shared the bread and wine which would become his body and blood given and shed for us for the remission of our sins through his atoning death upon the Cross. Believing that Christ died for our sins and that through the celebration of Holy Communion and belief in him we are restored to fellowship with the Father, do you promise to acknowledge and serve him as your Lord and Savior not just in church but in your daily lives?
C: Yes, and I ask Jesus to help me.
L: As God supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, so he will bless each of you as you plant the seed of the Word of God in our hearts and share the administration of communion among us. Please kneel and receive God's blessing and anointing for this service.
L: Congregation please stand and let us pray: When Christ ascended on high he gave gifts to his people. We pray now that the Holy Spirit will stir up those spiritual gifts within you and anoint you for the ministry of reading and of assisting with holy communion. Pour out your Spirit, Gracious Lord, on these your faithful servants who now kneel before you. Be with us, as a congregation, in supporting and encouraging their ministry among us. Equip them as saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. May the love they have for their Lord and Savior continue to grow as they share with us through service. Be now anointed with the Holy Spirit to minister in our midst as readers and communion assistants in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
L: Empowered by the Spirit, go in peace.
